Two Finishes! Tomten's Quilt and BOM 2024

How come I've forgotten to take photos of these two finished beauties?! 

 I think the distraction of my faulty Bernina (in June) is to blame. 

Now, for about two weeks, I've been waiting for nicer weather to take photos, but 'of course' the weather went worse. Today (Jan 1, 2026), the sun is shining from blue sky.

Tomten's Quilt (Keep Believing), #14 on my UFO list 2024 / #16 UFO list 2025

6 blocks were done in 2024 and the remaining 24 in 2025. 

My intention was to make it into a flimsy at that point, which didn't happen. 

 I ran out of the red fabric (Moda Marbles Brick Red) and had to order more. When I got it, I decided to finish it.

There are 9 duplicate mini panels. I wanted to make the blocks all unique, but that meant buying a coordinating panel and that was no-no! As many of you know, I purchase fabric from abroad. International shipping has become extremely expensive. Sometimes the shipping cost comes to more than the item price! From this year (2025), I'm on SFD (Strict-Fabric-Diet)! That doesn't mean I'm not going to buy anything at all, it means only buying what I really need to finish a project. So far, so good! 

How to quilt it, is always my question. Depending on the design, it doesn't always fit the quilt to do FMQ. For me, that is meandering or loopy swirls design. I decided to custom quilt the blocks. It takes time of course, but is well worth it for the final result. 

Aren't these guys too cute?! 

First, I quilted in-the-ditch (in the seamline) around the star spikes, then the snowflakes background. The four cornerstones got an X and I did another seam half an inch inside the HSTs. 

I needed to do something with the small panels (star centers). I did in-the-ditch around the star center panels and from spikes to spikes. Quite a lot of quilting, AND wrestling (arm exercise!), for not to forget those not so nice words! LOL

The backing has small gnomes on dark blue. 

First blocks made: 2022 (or maybe 2021?)

Flimsy: April 2025

Thread basted and quilted: May 2025

Finished: May 17, 2025

Sherri McConnel's BOM 2024

I was not going to do any BOM! 

...and see what happened! 

I couldn't resist Sherri's BOM 2024. 

I had sew much fun making these blocks in RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) colors. 

I like how it turned out in RSC colors. 

You may notice there are two red blocks. I ran out of RSC colors and decided to make one more block in red.

Each block is custom quilted. 

The sashing has white dots on black and small corner stones in a variety of colors

The border is a batik I've had for years. You know the phrase; 'too beautiful to be cut'! lol 

I did a pieced backing for this quilt.

First block made: January 2024

Flimsy: Dec 2024

Finished: June 8, 2025

Over the River and Through the Woods - It's a FINISH!

 FINALLY! ...after 16 years...!!!!

Over the River and Through the Woods is completed! 

My goal was to finish it by the end of this year (2025), and here it is: 

It took me some time deciding how to quilt it. I had a look at several quilts on Pinterest and it looks like many of them are longarm quilted, which is not an option for me. 

I decided on crosshatch design on the stitcheries. I was worried I'd mess it up if I tried something else! (I did not press it before taking photos).

Did you notice? I did fix the sides of the stitcheries. You can see 'before' here. 

The sashing is quilted in straight lines one quarter inch from the seam

Star blocks are quilted in a star design. 

To avoid bulk, all seams in the blocks are pressed open. 

The Flying Geese border;

I have outlined the 'geese' and the background is free-motion-quilted

Pieced backing

I decided on browns. 

Happy to say most of these fabrics are used up.

I've had that faux floral border piece for years. An old lady in Norway (known through a friend) got a box with lots of goodies at a quilt shop. Sadly the shop had to close down and there were lots of bargains. Oh what fun to open that box! I didn't know what to do with that piece of floral border, I don't know how many times it has been in and out of the shelf! I think it was waiting to be used on this quilt! 

The block contains 'Flying geese' blocks I found too dark (not enough contrast) and one too red, for the border. Several other brown pieces are used up. 

Size: Approximately 51.5 x 57.5 inches / 131 x 146 cm

Fabric used: Approximately 10 yards (all from my stash) 

Floss / thread used:

- Floss: ThreadWorx #10351 Rustic Brown Cherry (overdyed floss)

- MasterPiece 180, 136, 167, 153

- King Tut: 997, 900, 983

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Pattern bought: June 2009

Fabric purchased: 2010 (Norway)

Stitchery preparation: January 2023

Completed: December 14, 2025 

Too Many Men Wall Hanging - A Finished UFO

I have a few FINISHED UFO's to show. I'll start with this one.

This post has been in draft mode since April, just waiting for photos. 

Photos were finally done today, but due to strong glare from the sun and blue sky, they didn't turn out as good as I hoped. Oh well... I'm not a photographer! 

Since I finished my goal for April early (Dwellings), I thought it would be nice to finish a smaller quilt; the snowmen wall hanging. 

I'm not sure when I started working on this one. 

I purchased the panel - 'Too Many Men' - April 2022 and it is on my 2023 UFO list #17 Snowman wall hanging. At that time; already thread basted. 

It is small (in comparison to the big quilts I have finished this year), but a lot of work goes into it.  

I could have done the quilting easier, like FMQ or crosshatch design. Instead, I quilted it by outlining all the detailed designs to make it stand out better. 

There are some pretty cool snowmen hiding here and there; behind houses and trees, one poor guy has lost his head (!!!) 

and there's even a snowman head on the weathervane! 

The moon! 

Other details are the stars, snowflakes and holly berries, hardly not seen from a distance. 

I have added seed beads and small bugle beads to make them visible and sparkle in the lamplight. 

A lot of work, yes, but well worth it! 

The back

Size: 30.25 x 36 inches / 77 x 91.5 cm

Panel purchased: April 2022

Thread basted / to be quilted: 2022? UFO list 2023

Fabric: Purchased panel, border fabric and backing (in 2022). The backing fabric was on sale to half price. Squares from my stash

Mill Hill Beads: from my stash 

Finished: April 30, 2025

Next Up / My goal for May:

UFO #16 (on my UFO list); 'Tomten's Quilt'. 

Dwellings - A Finished UFO

Warning: Photos heavy! 

Click on the photos to enlarge.

 My goal this year is to finish at least one UFO each month. 

'Dwellings' was my goal for April, and yes, I did it! 

The border is a fun houses design. It looks a bit overexposed and I was not able to correct it in the photo editing program. Not the best quality photo, you can see a better photo of it here. 

Pieced backing

I used up the house fabric, a piece of Stonehenge and various Moda Marbles

Moda Marbles are also used for the scrappy binding

Closeup of the quilting. 

This is the best I could do on 'dear Nina'

Each house is custom quilted

Size: 61 x 86 inches / 1.55 x 2.18 meters

Fabrics: Moda Marbles, Country Houses, batik, Stonehenge

Batting: Quilters Dream 'Select'

Thread: King Tut, MasterPiece, Aurifil, Yli, Mettler (52 colors used)

Fabric used: The pattern calls for approximately 16 yards 

(9.75" front and 5.75" backing)

All fabrics, except 'Country Houses' (purchased) are from my stash.

Batting was purchased for this quilt

Quilting: Each house is custom quilted in straight lines. Background, sashing and border FMQ.

Total hours of quilting: approximately 96 hours (17 days, average 5 hours per day) 

First block: December 2022

Flimsy: March 2025

Thread basted: March 2025

Started Quilting: March 21, 2025

Finished: April 10, 2025

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Next up: 

UFO #19 - Too Many Men (Snowmen Wall Quilt)

UFO list 2025

Compared to the quilts I have finished so far this year, this is a small one. I needed a break from wrestling (arm exercise!) big quilts. I'm currently quilting this one and hope to get it done this month. 

Keep the Home Fires Burning - A Finish

I reached my goal for March!

(I'm late in posting my finishes)

'Keep the Home Fires Burning' is FINISHED! 

This quilt was started when I had a squirrel moment in February 2024, and also a result of the RSC - Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2024. 

In December 2024 I made a pieced backing, using up more bits & pieces of fabrics I know I'd never use for anything else. I got two leftover blocks I added to the back.

Deciding on a quilting design is always a challenge. I do all quilting on my domestic sewing machine; Bernina 440 QE. The throat size is 7.5", not a big space for big quilts. It involves quite some wrestling (arms exercise!) and usually a bucket of swear words! Does it sound familiar?! 

This quilt wasn't the worst to quilt. I did straight lines and there were not much wrestling! 

Straight lines on and around the Heart, half inches between the seams. 

(Click on the photos to enlarge)

Pinwheels, 9-patches and an interesting border

Friendship Star blocks, Bowties, 4- and 9-patches

9-patches, Friendship Stars and Bowties

4-patches, Bowties, Friendship blocks and border

Size: 72 x 72 inches / 183 x 183 cm

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Fabric Requirements (Pattern):

 

Top: Approximately 9-1/4 yards 

Back: 4-7/8 yards - pieced back requires more

Total: Approximately 15 yards (all from my stash)

Progress: 

First blocks made: February 2024

All blocks (except the border block): August 2024

Pieced backing: December 2024

Quilted: March 2024

Thread: King Tut 961 and 997 front, Masterpiece 152 back

Total hours to quilt & hand sew binding to the back: 46 hours

Finished: March 12, 2025